An AP reporter searching the Bangladeshi factory where more than a hundred people died in a fire over the weekend found shorts from Wal-Mart’s Faded Glory brand…as well as Sean Combs’s ENYCE line. They also found books listing Wal-Mart, Disney, and Sears as buyers, plus cartons of children’s hoodies marked “Disney Pixar.” Other reports sayContinue Reading “Yes, Even Christmas Gifts Have a Circle of Life”

The latest monthly U.S. trade figures were released this morning by the Department of Commerce: The monthly U.S. international trade deficit in goods and services rose to $42.2 billion in October, up from $40.3 billion in September. The goods deficit with China continued its rapid ascent, rising to $29.5 billion in October, up from $29.1Continue Reading “All of the Other Reindeer Ornaments…Were Made in China”

In Bangladesh and elsewhere, Wal-Mart and other major retailers have mechanisms to audit and approve factories to ensure that their suppliers obtain clothing from manufacturers that are safe and don’t employ child labor… Jahangir Alam, an officer for ethical sourcing at Wal-Mart’s office in Dhaka until late last year, said controlling the supply chain toContinue Reading “Have Yourself a Guilt-Free Little Christmas”

Call it a hunch. Well, a hunch based on the past two years seeking products made in the USA. Especially shoes, which are 98% imported–seems more like 99.9% to me, but apparently America still manufactures 2% of its shoes. So I’m flipping through L.L. Bean’s Holiday 2012 catalogue on a frosty morning a couple of daysContinue Reading “Makin’ a List. Checkin’ It Twice.”

…last year alone, the number of working age nonworkers grew to 89.2 million from 86.8 million…Welfare payments…now exceed $1 trillion a year. –The Wall Street Journal (12.08.12) * When men are employed they are best contented; for on the days worked they were good-natured and cheerful, and, with the consciousness of having done a goodContinue Reading “Buy USA-Made Holiday Gifts. Create Jolly American Workers.”

On this morning in 1941, the Japanese military attacked Pearl Harbor, killing 2,300 members of the American military. The Navy and Marine Corps suffered 2,117 deaths and 779 wounded, while the Army had 228 killed and 113 seriously wounded. These Americans surely didn’t wake up on the morning of December 7th thinking: Today I willContinue Reading “Just Hear Those {USA-Made} Sleigh Bells Jingling”

A couple of Saturdays ago, as Americans visited with family, watched football, shopped for bargains, and picked at the remains of our Thanksgiving feasts, a fire broke out in an apparel factory in Bangladesh. Witnesses said the factory workers, mostly women, tried to escape as smoke and flames engulfed the plant, but the too-narrow exitsContinue Reading “Faded Glory”

Turkey’s in the oven. Smells buttery and good. Yes, it’s been a while but please know I continue to seek (at times desperately), find and buy products made in this neighborhood we call the USA. Once you begin reading labels, you just can’t stop. As one friend recently put it: “Tina, I hate you! Now I can’t buyContinue Reading “From My Front Porch to Yours: Happy Thanksgiving”

From The Wall Street Journal, July 11, 2012: The U.S. trade deficit with China continues to grow…climbing 17% to $99.7 billion… * [Photo Credit: Peter Kramer/NBC NewsWire/Getty Images] Oh my. Can we talk about the Olympic uniforms? I know, I know. It’s too late to change them now, so why look in the rear view mirror? One-thousand outstanding U.S. athletesContinue Reading “What Not to Wear: RL’s Olympian Mistake”